Manufacture of tufted fabrics.



No. 698,870. Patented Apr. 29, I902. C. S. E. SPOEBL.

MANUFACTURE OF TUFTED FABRICS.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1899. Renewed Sept. 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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N'ITE STATES CHRISTIAN S. E. SPOERL, OF l/VILKESBARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN KASOHENBAOH, OF -WILKESBARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF TUFTED FABRICS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,870, dated April 29, 1902. Application filed March 11, 1899. Renewed September 4, 1901. Serial No- 74,3Z6. (No model.)

and a filling. of fibrous material-such as hair, moss, cotton, &c.the fabric being tufted with buttons, which connect the two fabrics together at regular or measured intervals, the prongs of the buttons being passed from the front through the two fabrics and clenched on the back fabric.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate the manufacture of such tufted fabrics, especially cushions for couches, padded hacks for chairs, &c., these having a specific contour and dimensions which require the tufting-points to be placed according to pattern.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a perspective view of an anvilbase constructed according to my invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same, showing the mode of using it. Fig. 3 shows one of the anvils set in the bed,'the figure representing both a plan and a transverse section of the anvil on a comparatively large scale. Fig. 4 shows aset and clenched button. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the invention as applied to a chair-back, the former being an elevation with the parts partly broken away and the latter a vertical section at line 00 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a face view of the special anvil-base seen in use in Figs. 5 and 6, and Fig. 8 is a View of an anvil-base having a different form.

A represents the anvil-base, and a the anvils settherein at the'points where the tufting-buttons are to be placed. The anvil is of metal, set in the base, (which may be of wood,) and provided with a concave upper surface adapted to spread and clench the prongs of the button I), as seen in Fig. 4.

In carrying out the tufting operation and making of the tufted fabric the back fabric so (usually burlaps or similar strong coarse fabric) is stretched over the anvil-base A, as seen in Fig. 2, being hooked over pins or retaining-hooks 01 along the margins of the anvilbase. The face fabricy (which may be plush, velvet, or the like) is attached by hooking onto the pins 01 along one side of the anvilbase, and a strip of the filling z, of hair, fibrous material, &c., is laid under the face fab rio y out as far as the first row of anvils a. The workman may feel where the anvils are through the fabrics, and he passes the prongs of a button 5 down through the fabrics and drives the button with a hammer, thus clenching the points, asseenin Fig. 4. After driving and clenching this row of buttons the workman lays more of the filling material and drives and clenches the next row of buttons, proceeding thus until all of the buttons are set. As he proceeds the workman shapes, creases, and plaits the fabric as required.

In tufting furniture the means employed are substantially the same, but somewhat special, and usually have the tufting-points specially arranged.

Fig. 7 shows the shape of the anvil-base A used in the chair-back O. (Seen in Figs. 5 and 6.) This base A is of the proper size and shape to fit into the frame of the space to be padded,'and the anvils a, are set in it at the points where the tufting-buttons b are to be set. The chair-back C is laid, back down, upon a table, the anvil-base A laid in the opening in the back and on the table, and the burlaps a: drawn over the opening and tacked to the frame in the chair-back about theopening. The cover fabric 1 is tacked to the frame along one'side of the opening, the filling z laid in strips, and the tacks driven and clenched, as before described. After completing the tufting the gimps or braid e is tacked or otherwise fastened onto the frame, and the anvil-base A is removed.

Fig. 8 shows another form of anvil-base, adapted to fit an opening in a chair-back or sofa-back having a different contour from that seen in Fig. 5.

The concave contour of the anvil a will be by preference annular, as shown, so that the two prongs of the button b may be set with little care to insure clenching; but so long as there are two oppositely-situated concavities,

' one for each prong, the anvil will serve if care be taken to insert the prongs properly. The anvils being removable may be shifted and set at different points in the base, as at a, in Fig. 1. The anvil-base A may be laid on a table for use, or it may form in itself a table-top.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. An anvil-base for use in making tufted fabrics by hand, said base having a plurality of clenching-anvils set removably in its up per face in rows, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An anvil-base having a substantially level upper surface of extended area and said surface provided with holes a arranged in rows to receive the an vils, in combination with clenching-anvils a set removahlyin such of said holes as are at the desired tuftingpoints, substantially as set forth.

3. An anvil-base for use in making tufted fabrics by hand, of the size and contour of.

the fabric to be made, said base having a plurality of cou'nterborcd holes or sockets in its upper face and at the tufting-points, and having removable clenching anvilsa, screwed removably in said holes, each ofsaid anvils having an annular concavity in its upper face, substantially as set forth.

4. An anvil-base for use in making tufted fabrics by hand, of substantially the size and contour of the fabric to be made, said base having set in it a plurality of anvil-sockets or holes arranged in rows, removable anvils set in such holes as correspond to the tufting-points, and pins or hooks d, set .in the edge of said base at the ends of the rows of holes, substantially as set forth.

5. A device for making upholstery composed of a base and a plurality of detachable anvils, adapted to clench tuft-button shanks.

6. A device for making upholstery composed of a fiat base and a plurality of disklike anvils set detachably in the same and adapted to clench the shanks of tuft-buttons.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 9th day of March, 1899, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN S. E. SPOERL.

\Vitnesses:

O. GEORGE SPOERL, Bonn-EN S. VEEDER. 

